Monthly Archives: September 2017

Dussehra is celebrated with great fervour in many parts of India. Each celebration has something different but dussehra celebrations in Kota city of Rajasthan are the most well-known. In Kota Dussehra is celebrated for 25 days every year. At the occasion, a fair is organized which starts on the first day of Navratri and goes on till a day before Dhanteras festival which marks the beginning of Deepawali.

The tradition of Dussehra fair was started in 1723 AD by Maharao Durjanshal Singh Hada. Those days, the celebrations used to last 3 days. Maharao Ummed Singh II (1889-1940 A.D.) was the one who made Dussehra Mela what it is today.

The effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarana and Meghnad are more than 75 feet tall here. A child dresses as Lord Ram does the honour of burning the effigies with an arrow of fire. Cultural programmes are organized and popular artists from all over India come to perform at the fest. Not only locals, but people from other parts of the country also come to witness the grand celebrations. International tourists also come to immerse in Dussehra Mela in Kota.

You can also become a part of this well-known celebration of victory of good over evil. Here’s the schedule-

This World Tourism Day brought a lot of well-deserved awards for the desert state. Rajasthan tourism was awarded by Hon’ble President Mr. Ramnath Kovind yesterday. National Award for Best Tourism Film was won by a 30 second short film that promoted state’s musical instruments in an innovative way. Here’s the film-

Rajasthan tourism was also runner up in National Tourism Award under Best State- Comprehensive Development of Tourism.

In another feat on World Tourism Day, Rajasthan famous for its museums made it to the list of travel website Trip Advisor’s Traveller’s Choice Awards for Museums. Five Indian museums appeared among the top 25 Asian museums and two of them are in Rajasthan. City Palace, Jaipur was on 15th position and Bagore Ki Haveli, Udaipur graced the 18th spot on the list.

Rajasthan is unarguably the most popular tourist destination in India. The state has so much to offer in the form of historical structures and delightful food. It is also a shopper’s paradise. This World Tourism Day, we bring to you a quick glimpse of the state’s gems-

Jaipur

The Pink City is called so because of the prominence of colour pink in the four-walled city. Jaipur has many monuments to delight visitors. If you are here just for a day, visiting Amber Fort and City Palace will make your jaunt fulfilling. If you have more time on your hands, don’t miss out on any monument. Nahargarh Fort, Jaigarh Fort, Hawa Mahal and JantarMantar are must see places. The artistic cenotaphs at Gaitore appeal to people looking for something different.

Shop at Bapu Bazaar and Johari Bazaar to get the best out of your trip. Lastly don’t forget to indulge in authentic cuisine of the city. Daal ,Baati, Churma and Laal Maas here are really delightful. For a sweeter experience, sink your teeth in Malpua.

Udaipur

Come here for a taste of regal luxury. The City of Lakes is beautiful beyond words and staying here is calming and surreal. Boating in Pichhola Lake or sitting by Fateh Sagar Lake will give you cherished memories. The hotels in Udaipur go all out to make you feel like royalty.

Bikaner

Image via thinkparticle

This small city lives at its own pace. Junagarh fort here is a reminder of the city’s rich heritage. Lalgarh Palace is an architectural marvel. Shop for camel-leather jutis here.

Jodhpur

The blue walls of the houses here give the city an old-world charm. The grand Mehrangarh fort watches over the city like a trusted protector. Symmetrical style of Jaswant Thadamemorial is enchanting and the place is a must visit.

Jaisalmer

Come here for truly experiencing the desert-life. The Golden City’s yellow sandstone monuments transport the onlookers to a different world. Desert-safari is best experienced here in the vast expanse of sand.

Ranakpur

This beautiful, secluded village is what a laid-back traveler wants. The most popular site in the city is a spectacular Jain Temple dedicated to Tirthankara Adinath. It is made up of white marble and is a sight to behold. The village itself is really charming with its magnificent architecture.

Chittorgarh Fort

Chittorgarh-Fort

A World Heritage Site and one of the largest forts in India, Chittorgarh Fort is a symbol of courage and sacrifice. This sprawling structure is high on the list of people coming to Rajasthan.

Kumbhalgarh Fort

Being at this site fills you with awe and admiration for rulers of Mewar. The fort located in Rajsamand district was built by Rana Kumbha. Maharana Pratap who is revered in this region was born in this imposing fort. This is also a World Heritage Site.

Pushkar

There are very few Brahma Temples and Pushkar has the most popular of them. Evening Aarti at Pushkar Lake fills you with serenity despite being a crowd-puller. Another highly popular event held in the city is annual Camel Fair which attracts visitors of all kinds.

It’s time to rejoice for the travelers as well as for the residents of Bikaner! The much awaited flight between India’s capital Delhi and beautiful city Bikaner starts functioning today. The flight will take off from Delhi Airport at 1:30 PM and reach Bikaner at 2:45 PM. It will fly back at 3:15 PM to arrive in Delhi.

An airline associated with Air India will provide the service. This move is delightful for all kinds of travelers as it will save a lot of time. The two cities are separated by a distance of about 450 kilometers and its an overnight journey by train.

Rajasthan is a state of many beautiful temples. Out of these temples, many are managed by Devasthan Department. Devasthan is a Rajasthan government department that looks after the temples in the state. The department also takes care of some temples in other states as well because they were built by rulers from the Jaipur, Bikaner, Bharatpur and Kota. The department oversees a total of 203 temples that are self-sufficient as in they are not dependent upon state grant and are run solely by the offerings given by devotees.

All these attract people not only for religious reasons but also because they are beautiful and offer mental piece to the visitors. Devasthan department is doing a good job of managing the temples in its ambit whether they are located in Rajasthan or in other states. Devasthan temples located in other states include places of worship in Varanasi, Vrindavan, Haridwar, Uttarkashi, Nainital and Gangotri. Managing so many temples is not an easy task but the department is doing well despite devotees thronging these places. A boost to tourism always pays off as it helps both government and pilgrims.

As part of an initiative by a social youth group, orphan girls from Kota got a new experience. These girls got an opportunity to fly from Kota to Jaipur. The excitement and happiness was visible on their lovely faces. The group of girls completed the return journey from Jaipur to Kota on a train which again was a novel experience for them.

It was the first time that these girls traveled on an airplane or on a train. The girls were from Manan Smriti Sansthan in Kota and were on a tour to Jaipur city. They were received by Mr. Manan Chaturvedi on Jaipur Airport who is the chairperson of State Commission for Conservation of Child Rights. We appreciate the effort to bring smile on the faces of children.

Navratri begins tomorrow!
Pujas and nine days rituals at home, holidays on the cards, so many typical traditional outfits, dandiya & garba plans, fasting for peace and prosperity and a lot more is what these nine days indeed promise. When it comes to celebrating traditions and making the most out of these happy times one should never lag behind.

Navratri is a festival devoted to the worship of Goddess Durga. The word ‘Navratri’ literally means ‘nine nights’ in Sanskrit; Nav – Nine and Ratri – nights. And hence the merriment takes place for 9 days. All through the nine nights and ten days, various forms of Goddess Durga are worshipped.

This year, Navratri is commencing from Thursday, September 21st and will end on Friday September 29th. On Saturday September 30th Dusshera will be observed to celebrate the victory over evil.

Each of the 9 days in Rajasthan will start with first seeking blessings from the goddess and then moving on to celebration. Several places in Rajasthan will be lit up during this time with everybody gushing with energy throughout. People get dressed in colorful attires and participate in Garba folk dance and Dandiya-Raas in which people match their steps to the rhythm of music and dance using dandiya (wooden sticks) with their partners.

Navratri festival does bring people closer to each other and soak everyone in its joyous colors! This festival is especially popular among tourists because it gives them an opportunity to get closer to the rich culture of Rajasthan.

So, now that the festival is this close, get ready to participate this year in the enthusiastic and vibrant festival of Navratri! After all this is the exact time to meet locals of town and know more about the state’s culture ;). You just have to know the right place to be!